
under the dominion of a higher power, will
surely work ruin and death."—My
Life
Today,
page 78.
6.
In God's sight how does the
person with self-control rank? Prov.
16:32.
NOTE.—"The man or Woman who pre-
serves the balance of the mind when
tempted to indulge passion, stands higher
in the sight of God and heavenly angels
than the most renowned general that ever
led an army to battle and to victory."—
My Life Today,
page 70. •
7.
What important principle should
all of us keep in mind? Proy. 13:3.
NOTE.—"The largest share of life's an-
noyances, its heartaches, its irritations, is
due to uncontrolled temper. In one mo-
ment, by hasty, passionate, careless words,
may be wrought evil that a whole life-
time's repentance cannot undo. Oh, the
hearts that are broken, the friends es-
tranged, the lives wrecked, by the harsh,
hasty words of those who might have
brought help and healing
!"—My Life To-
day,
page 81.
"In the use of language there is per-
haps no error that old and young are more
ready to pass over lightly in themselves
than hasty, impatient speech. They think
it is a sufficient excuse to plead, 'I was off
my guard, and did not really mean what
I said.' But God's Word does not treat it
lightly."—Ibid.
8.
What does James say of the
person who has his spirit well under
control? James 3:2.
NOTE.—"The greatest triumph given us
by the religion of Christ is control over
ourselves."—Testimonies,
Vol. 4, p. 235.
"If . . . [Christians" can remain calm
amid a tempest of inconsiderate, passionate
words, if they can rule their own spirits
when provoked and abused; they are in-
deed conquerors. . . . To subdue self, and
bring the passions under the control of the
will, is the greatest conquest that men
and women can achieve."—/bid., Vol. 3,
p. 183.
"You should keep off from Satan's en-
chanted ground and not allow your minds
to be swayed • from allegiance to God.
Through Christ you may .. . acquire habits
of self-control. Even your thoughts must
be brought into subjection to the will of
God and your feelings under the control
of reason and religion. . . . If the thoughts
are wrong the feelings will be wrong, and
the thoughts and feelings combined make
up the moral character. When you decide
that as Christians you are not required to
restrain your thoughts and feelings you
are brought under the influence of evil
angels and invite their presence and their
control. If you yield to your impressions
and allow your thoughts to run in a
channel of suspicion, doubt, and repining
you will be among the most unhappy of
mortals, and your lives will prove a fail-
ure."—Ibid.,
Vol. 5, p. 310.
"Man has been placed in a world of
sorrow, care, and perplexity. He is placed
here to be tested and proved, as were
Adam and Eve, that he may develop a .
right character and bring harmony out
of discord and confusion."—Ibid., p. 311.
Help in Gaining the Victory
9.
Why can we never gain the
mastery over self in our own strength?
Jer. 1M3.
NOTE.—"Human barriers against natural
and cultivated tendencies are but as the
sandbank against the torrent. Not until
the life of Christ becomes a vitalizing
power in our lives can we resist the temp-
tations that assail us from within and
from without. . . . By becoming one with
Christ, man is free. Subjection to the will
of Christ means restoration to perfect
manhood."—My
Life Today,
page 78.
10.
What is the real secret of mani-
festing self-control toward those
around us? John 13:35; Rom. 13:
8-10.
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